Young People's Concert
Kick off your shoes and dance around, family style. The Young People's Concert, a long-time summer tradition in Maverick's barn-style concert hall, hosts Woodstock legend singer-songwriter Marc Black to entertain children and adults. Black, who won the American Library Association Award for Best Children's Album, performs on August 3. Black plays celebratory songs about diversity and changing the world with peace. Come sit cross-legged or dance around with friends and family for the last performance of Maverick's children's concerts series. Woodstock. (845) 679-8217; Maverickconcerts.org.
A Perfect Time to Clown Around
Bard's resident family circus and touring company presents three consecutive weekends of clowning around, from August 3 to 18. On August 3 and 4, Bindlestiff presents "Kinder Spiegel," which will showcase sword swallowers, tightrope walkers, and jugglers. On August 10 and 11, Concrete Temple Theatre stars acclaimed Italian dancer Carlo Adinolfi in "Geppetto." This theatrical comedy tells the tale of a poor Italian immigrant puppeteer who travels with his closest companions, two well-worn puppets. On August 17 and 18, European acrobatic theater group the Piccolini Trio performs "Circus in a Trunk." The Spiegeltent is an authentic Belgian mirror tent that hosts music and cabaret all summer long. Annandale-on-Hudson. (845) 758-7900; Fishercenter.bard.edu.
Dive into Wonderland
On August 8, Saugerties's Fiberflame Studio invites children of all ages to grab their pixie dust for an afternoon of hands-on creativity. In this whimsical workshop, children create bird-size houses out of natural stone and twigs for fairies of their imagination. Folk storyteller Jill Olesker will tell interactive legends about fairies from all different cultural backgrounds. A tea party featuring fairy cupcakes, sparkly pink punch, and herbal iced tea will follow. The take-home creations are perfect to hang up in windows or the garden to bring protection and joy. Fiberflame Studio is an interactive walk-in studio with over 40 projects to choose from, such as paint-your-own-pottery, beading, and collaging. (845) 679-6132; Fiberflamestudio.com.
A Summer Classic: Bergers and Franks
Sometimes there is magic in socks or awkward silences. On August 10, the Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck hosts magicians Derrin Berger and Frank Monaco. Eating magic for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Berger and Manaco have been local magicians for a combination of 60 years. Combining humor and illusions, past performances have included marshmallows, socks, live animals, and audience participation. Part of the center's family summer series, this will be the first time these magicians partake in a trick together on stage. (845) 876-1163; Centerforperformingarts.org.
Blue Ribbon County Fairs
What's a summer without cotton candy, bumper cars, and cupcakes? Throughout August, the county fairs of Ulster, Dutchess, and Columbia ensure that those sticky childhood memories stay intact. From July 30 to August 4, the Ulster County Fairgrounds hosts a farm animal petting zoo and an amusement park. Columbia's fair offers a week full of entertainment ending with the 2013 Cupcake War. From August 20 to 25, the Dutchess County Fair hosts rainforest rescue with Bixby's, an interactive educational performance incorporating live tropical animals. (845) 255-1380; Ulstercountyfair.com. (518) 392-2121; Columbiafair.com. (845) 876-4000; Dutchessfair.com.
